Continuous-contact trolley.



No., 627,927; I Patented June 27,1899. c'. LEBGHEB. GUNTINUUUS. GONTAGTTROLLEY.

(Applicatiqxx filed, Aug. 22, 1898A 2 `She ,ts-Sheet l.

@No Medef.)

n: Ncnms PETERS co. Puntaumov. wAsmNcrou n c CONTINUOUSv CONTACTTROLLEY.

(Appliation led- Aug. 22, 1898.)

2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

('Nu Model.)

UNI,

' its normal position above the feed or supply n tion in such full,clear, concise, and exact NTTED STATES PATENT EEICE.

CHESTER B. LEBCHER, oF PLAINS, MONTANA.

CONTINUOUS-CONTACT TROLLEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,927, dated J une27, 189Q.

Application filed August 22, 1898.

sam No. 689,179. (No man.)

T0 all whom t may concera:

Be it known that I, CHESTER B. LEBCHER, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residin g at Plains, in the county of Missoula and State of Mon*-tana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolleys; andI do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, andv exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention 'relates to trolleys for electric railways; and itcomprises a supplemental trolley in rear of the main trolley-wheel, andsaid supplemental trolley is normally above the electric or feed wireand resting on the top thereof, but when obstructions are met--as ahanger, switches, or cross-wiresis automatically brought underneath andin contact with the under side of the feed-wire by novel mechanism andafter the obstruction is passed again automatically assumes wire orconductor and the main trolley-wheel is then alone in operativelengagement with the main trolley-wire or feed-wire on its under side, sothata contact is thus maintained.

The object of the invention is to obviate the frequent breaks in thecircuit which are usual with the common trolley and which breaks arevery injurious to the main or feed wire.

I will now proceed to describe the inventerms that any person familiarwith the art may construct and use the same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, and in which like letters and numerals indicate likeparts in the different views, Figure l is a side elevation of theimproved trolley with the supthe feed-wire. Fig. 2 is a like view withthe supplemental trolley in contact with the feedwire, as in passing anobstruction. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device. Fig. 4 is a rearelevation of the device,partly in cross-section, on line of Fig. 2 toillustrate the shifting mechanism.. Figs. 5 and b' are plans and sideelevations, respectively, of' the trolley-head. Figs; 7 and 8 are sideand rear elevations, respectively, of one of the frames for supportingthe shifting mechanism. Fig. 9 represents the bisected roller or wheel,one part being shown in elevation andthe other in section; and Fig. lOis a side elevation of the bisected wheel, showing a star-Wheel securedthereto.

A is the head or holder. It comprises a substantially C-shaped frame,with a socketed arm arranged at an angle thereto. The socket isrepresented at a2 and is designed' to receive the trolley rod or pole;The long` arms of the C-shaped frame are represented at A A', and theyare connected at their inner ends by the cross bar or arm ct'.

The arms A A' are provided with bearings for the main trolley-wheel andalso for the inner and outer frames B and D, as will be presentlyexplained.

T represents the main trolley-wheel, and the shaft on whiclrit ismounted to revolve between the arms A A'. On the outer sides of the armsA AQ respectively, are curved arms'or horns a d. These arms datarepreferably arranged slightly in rear of the aXle of the wheel Tj Thefreeends of the curved arms or horns have coiled springs B2 B2 secured tothem, and the 'lower ends of these springs are secured to pins b4 b4 onthe outer frame B. A spring Dzis secured to the short arm a', and theopposite end of the springis connected to a cross-bar cl of the frame D,thus yieldingly supporting and holding the inner frame D in the properposition, as will be hereinafter explained.

The frames B and D, before mentioned, are securedto the head A. Theframe D is composed of side pieces, which are substantially triangularin form, are pivoted to the head A atD, are connected by an intermediatecrossbar CZ', and have mounted between their rear ends a bisectedsupplemental wheel J. The structure of the side parts is well shownindetail in Fig. 7.

Spring-actuated angular latches are secured on a single shaft S, onelatch being arranged on each side of frame D. The latches have extendedarms S,Awhich act simultaneously when making contact with a cross wire,(shown atie.) The front end of the latches S are curved and adapted toengage notchesin frame B, as will be explainedlater on.

The sides of frame D are provided with ways or guides F for the slidingblocks G. G,

IOO

' and also adjacent to said ways F and near the lower ends thereof arejournal-bearings I I for the short shafts a n of the gear-wheels N O.The retnrn-anges f f hold the sliding blocks in place.

The blocks G G are adapted to slide up and down laterally on the ways F,and on the under side they are provided with racks h h", which areadapted to engage with the gearwheels N. The sliding blocks carry orsupport shafts H H, on which are mounted, respectively, the two membersof the bisected Wheel J. These shafts are held in place by means ofscrews 71, h.

Immediately above the blocks G G and resting against the guides or waysF are arranged antifriction-rollers g g. A portion of the shafts n n arereduced in size or cut away, as at 'n2 n2, and they are provided withsplines h h', and by this means the gears are secured and rotated. Thepurpose of the second or cut-out portion is to provide for lost motionwhen the gears are operated by the segmentracks, as the travel of thearms of frame B, to be described, is relatively excessive as comparedwith the movement of the shifting blocks G for operating the wheel J.

Secured to the outer side of each member of the bisected wheel J is ,astar-wheel L, provided with teeth or points Z Z, and secured to thesections of wheel J by rivets or pins Z'.

The object of the star-wheels is to prevent the divided wheel fromriding outside of the main or feed Wire l5 when passing around curves.

By reference to Fig. et of the drawings it will be seen that the pointsof the starwheel project above the main wire 15 and rest against thecross-wire 14, which in this view is provided with rolls 16, which maybe made of gas-pipe, if desired. The object of this is to prevent wearon the cross-Wire at the points of contact by the arms of frame B.

Underneath the bisected wheel J is a check or stop roll E, whose axis ismounted in suitable bearings in the rear lower end of frame D.

The frame B has the same general configuration in outline as the frameD; but it is somewhat wider at the rear than at the front'. The sidearms or members are pivoted to the head A by means of the shaft B', andat the rear they are connected by a transverse bar b3. This frame B,like `frame D, is somewhat in skeleton form, and the top bars of theside arms or pieces are extended forward and curved, as shown at b5, tofacilitate the making and breaking contact with cross-wire 14 or otherobstructions.

The lower bars of the side pieces or arms of frame B are connected tothe top bars by vertical segments or arc-shaped pieces b. The innersides of these pieces b are provided with racks for engaging thegear-Wheels on frame D, and the edges of the pieces b are also providedwith notches b2 for engaging the forward ends of the latches S.

The operation of the invention is as follows, viz: The head, with themain trolley' wheel, operates in the customary manner, the wheel beingunderneath and in contact with the supply or feed wire. The bisected orsupplemental wheel is normally above and in contact with the top of theWire, and in this position the check or stop roll is in contact with theunder side of the wire. The parts are held in this position by frame Dthrough the medium of spring D2, and the long side arms of frame B holdthe parts of the bisected or supplemental wheel tightly together throughthe intervention of springs B2, check C, and gears N and O. When thesegment racks or frames B have moved downwardly suliicient to completelyopen the bisected wheel, the end of the spring-actuated catch S engagesa notch b2 in the edge of the arc-shaped parts of frame B, thus holdingthis frame in a depressed position for a short time, or until it -shallhave passed a short distance under the cross-Wire or other obstruction.As the latch is on the frame D, the two frames B and D descend togetheragainst the tension of the respective spring, and as the device passesunder the cross-wire (see Fig. 2) the points of the star-wheel are inengagement with the cross-wire, and thus prevent any undue lateralmovement of the bisected supplemental wheel. When the trolley has passedthe cross-wire, the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 1. Thebisected wheel, however, remains open momentarily, or until the rear ends' of the spring-latch strikes the cross-wire, when all the parts areagain in their normal condition-that is, the main trolleywheel incontact with the under side of the main wire and the supplemental orbisected wheelin contact with the top of the wire.

Minor changes inthe details of the construetion may be made Within thescope of the invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages thereof.

Having thus full)T described the invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a trolley, a main trolley-wheel mounted to rotate on thetrolley-head, two frames yieldingly mounted and pivoted to thetrolley-head and extending rearwardly, the inner frame carrying abisected supplemental wheel, and also a check or stop roll, thesupplemental wheel resting normally on top of the feed-wire, and thecheck-roll underneath said Wire, and means substantially as describedfor moving the supplemental bisected wheel underneath the feed wire orconductor, when an obstruction is met, as set forth.

2. In a trolley, a main trolley-wheel mounted to rotate on thetrolley-head, two frames vieldingl'y pivoted to the trolley-head, andextending rearwardly, the inner frame carrying a bisected supplementalwheel with star- Wheels secured to the outer sides of the membersthereof, and also a check-roll, the supplemental wheel resting normallyon the top IIO 627,927 n v f" of the feed-Wire and the check-rollunderneath said wire, and means substantially as described for movingthe supplemental bisected wheel underneath the feed Wire or couductorwhen an obstruction is met, substantially as set forth. p,

3. In a trolley, a main trolley-wheel mounted to rotate on thetrolley-head, an inner frame carrying a bisected trolley-wheel, saidframe pivoted at its rear end to the head, and yieldingly connected tothe frame carrying the main wheel by means of springs secured tocross-bars on said frame, and an outer frame yieldingly connected to thetrolley-head frame by means of arms or horns, on. the trolley-head andsprings between the ends of said arms and the frame, and meanssubstantially as described for removing the biseoted wheel out ofcontact with the top of the wire or conductor and bringing it intocontact with the underside ofsame,substantiallyas described.

4. In atrolley, a main trolley-wheel mounted to rotate on thetrolley-head, an inner frame yieldingly pivoted to said head, andcarrying a bisected supplemental wheel, means for positively opening andclosing the members of said wheel, an outer frame also yieldinglypivoted to the trolley-head, and means on the frames for removing thebsected Wheel out of contact with the top or upper side of the wire orconductor and bringing it into contact with the under side of said wire,substantially as set forth.

5. In a trolley, a main trolley-wheel mounted to rotate on thetrolley-head, an inner frame yieldingly pivoted to said head andcarrying a bisected supplemental Wheel, means for positively opening andclosing the members of said Wheel, an outer frame also yieldinglypivoted to the trolley-head, means on the frames for securing thebisected Wheel out of contact with the upper sideof the wire orconductor and bringing it into contact with the under side of said wire,and a latch for looking the two frames together at apredetermined periodof their descent, substantially as set forth.

(L A trolley having a main wheel and a sup- 7. In a trolley, a maintrolley-wheel mount-4 ed to rotate on the trolley-head, an inner frameyieldingly pivoted to said head and carrying a bisected supplementalwheel, means for positively opening and closing the two members of saidwheel, an outer frame also yieldingly pivoted to the trolley-head, means.for removing the bisected wheel out of contact with the upper side ofthe wire or conductor and bringing it into contact with the under sideof said Wire, a latch for locking the two frames together at apredetermined period of their descent, said latch having arearwardly-extending arm for automatically unlocking the same by contactwith a cross- Wire or other obstruction, substantially asset forth. l

8. In a trolley, a main trolley-wheel mounted to rotate on thetrolley-head, an inner v frame yieldingly pivoted on said head, andcarrying a biseoted supplemental wheel mounted in movable bearings, theunder sides of said bearings being formed as racks, and gearwheelsengaging said racks, an outer frame, provided with an extended curvedarm at the top thereof, having its top and bottom bars connected bysegmental vertical bars with racks on their inner sides to engagegearwheels, said segments having notches in their rear edges, and aspring-actuated latch to engage with said notches, substantially as setforth.

In'testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

l CHESTER B. LEBCHER. Witnesses:

WILLIAM B. RUSSELL, l JOSEPH THOMAS.

